“And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?” – Walt Whitman
In the earliest days of experiments in photographic methodology the various emulsions available were too slow to permit the portrayal of the human form, and even more advanced processes like daguerreotype and tintype required lengthy motionless sitting times by the subject. Nevertheless, the human figure has been mainstay of the photographer since almost the inception of the medium. Figure photography imitating the style and subjects of classical painting constituted some of the fine art photography of the time. As technology advanced, photographers began to create their own figure photography sub-genres, ranging from the crass to the sublime. Fine art figure photography is now routinely taught in art curriculums.

For this exhibition we’re looking for examples of accomplished photography that present the human body as subject. The nude in nature, in the studio, and in more candid situations are all appropriate. And nudity is not necessary; any photo that depicts the body as an artful form to be celebrated is appropriate.